CNMI Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Human Smuggling Operation between Saipan and Guam

Saipan, M.P. – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that the following individuals were sentenced this week by Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona in the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens, in violation of 8 U.S.C. §1324(a)(1)(A)(v)(I):

• Steven Villagomez Pangelinan – age 58, sentenced on November 20, 2025, to 30 months incarceration, two years of supervised release, 100 hours community service, and a $100 mandatory assessment fee;

• William J. Cabrera, Jr. – age 44, sentenced on November 19, 2025, to 21 months imprisonment, three years of supervised release, 100 hours community service, and a $100 mandatory assessment fee;

• Steven Chris Tomokane – age 55, Sentenced on November 19, 2025, to six months imprisonment, six months home detention, 3 years of supervised release, 100 hours community service, and a $100 mandatory assessment fee; and

• Kenneth Hocog Pangelinan – age 39, sentenced on November 19, 2025, to 37 days incarceration, three years of supervised release, 100 hours of community service, and $100 assessment fee.

On June 22, 2023, Steven Pangelinan led two boats—a 25-foot Boston Whaler and an 18-foot McKee Craft—on a 120-mile, overnight trip from Saipan to Guam to smuggle 21 Chinese nationals, each of whom paid about $4,500 to avoid airport immigration checks by Customs and Border Protection. Guam authorities spotted the vessels dropping off the passengers and alerted CNMI law enforcement, which intercepted the boats and their four-person crew on their return.

Pangelinan led an organized human-smuggling operation responsible for numerous prior trips. He owned the boats, captained one during the voyage, and earned at least $80,000 from this single run. A third vessel, a 31-foot Fountain, was also linked to his smuggling activities, and all three boats will be forfeited to the federal government.

William Cabrera served as Pangelinan’s primary accomplice and captained the second boat in this and previous smuggling trips. Steven Tomokane and Kenneth Pangelinan were crew members on each boat.  Tomokane, a mechanic, also stored Pangelinan’s vessels at his home. Steven Tomokane is a boat mechanic who allowed Steven Pangelinan to store vessels used for human smuggling at his residence. Steven Tomokane and Kenneth Pangelinan both served as crew members for Steven Pangelinan and William Cabrera on the June 22, 2023, voyage to transport 21 Chinese nationals to Guam.

“The defendants facilitated illegal migration and risked the lives of many for their own financial gain,” stated United States Attorney Anderson.  “Their conduct was part of a concerning trend involving the abuse of the CNMI visa waiver program, among other provisions of our immigration laws. We will combat this activity at every opportunity.  I applaud the work of Guam and CNMI law enforcement in support of federal immigration enforcement.”

“This sentencing underscores Homeland Security Investigations’ unwavering commitment to dismantling criminal networks that exploit vulnerable individuals for profit while undermining the integrity of our immigration system,” said Lucia Cabral-DeArmas, HSI Honolulu. “The defendants in this case endangered lives and violated the law in their attempt to smuggle individuals into Guam. HSI will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect our borders and hold those who engage in human smuggling accountable.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance from the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and the CNMI Department of Public Safety.

Assistant United States Attorney Albert S. Flores, Jr. prosecuted the case in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.